Switching and indicating mechanism



April 1968 K. G. KREUTER 3,377,451

SWITCHING AND INDICATING MECHANISM Filed March 31, 1966 32 I 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR KENNETH GlK/FEUTER ATTORNEY p 968 K. cs. mEuTER3,377,451

SWITCHING AND INDICATING MECHANISM Filed March 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR KENNETH G. KREUTER ATTORNEY 3,3 ?145 l Patented Apr. 9, 19683,377,451 SWITCHING AND INDICATING MECHANISM Kenneth G. Kreuter, Goshen,Ind., assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., 21corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 539,054 17 Ciaims.(Cl. 200167) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A combined switching andindicating mechanism having a switch operator and a plural indicatorthat are pivotally and slidably carried in a housing and that are linkedtogether for unitary sliding movement in response to a manual pushactuator; a spring effects return movement of the actuator during whichthe indicator is pivoted and a cam causes pivoting of the operatorwhereby switch operation and switch position indicia changes areeffected simultaneously.

The invention relates to switching devices, and, in particular, tomanually operated switch means having indicators to indicate visuallythe condition or position of the contained electrical switches.

It has been conventional practice to incorporate changeable indicatorswith switch actuators that indicate the particular position of theswitch. However, the few attempts to combine changeable indicators withswitch actuators have resulted in complicated arrangements with acomplex assortment of components, e.g., a plurality of push buttonactuators and/ or a plurality of indicators with interlocking mechanismsto assure proper operation.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to combine a switchactuator with a changeable indicator into a single assembly for aswitching device.

Another object of this invention is to operate a switching devicesimultaneously with a switch position indicator by a single actuatorunit.

The present invention has another object in that a switching andindicating mechanism is movable to successive positions by unitaryactuator unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pluralswitching arrangement with a manual push button actuator that has areturn force to accomplish switch action and switch indicator movement.

In practicing the present invention, a combined switching and indicatingmechanism includes a housing having switch means and operating meanstherefor pivotally and slidably carried by the housing, indicating meanswith plural indicia pivotally and slidably carried by the housing,

linking means connecting the operating and indicating means to slide asa unit, actuator means imparting a sliding movement to the operating andindicating means and being manually actuated in one direction and springreturned in an opposite direction, means to pivot the indicating meansduring return movement, and cam means to pivot the operating means alsoduring such return movement whereby switch operation and indicia changesare effected simultaneously.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment takenin connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

.FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switching device embodying thepresent invention with a part broken away;

'FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded perspective vie-w of the switchingdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the switching device of FIG. 2 with partsbroken away;

'FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3 with parts in section and with aportion of the housing top broken away;

FIG. 5a is a side elevation of a detail of the actuating mechanism ofFIG. 3 in its depressed position;

FIG. 5b is a side elevation similar to FIG. 5a but with an intermediateposition;

FIG. 50 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 5a but with the actuatingmechanism in its rest position.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is mounted in a corresponding opening of an instrument panel10 so that only a front portion of the actuator unit, indicatedgenerally at 12, protrudes through the panel 10. The actuator unit 12,formed from molded plastic, includes a square front portion 14 carryinga transparent window 16 and a rectangular rear portion 18 extendingperpendicularly from the bottom of the square front 14. The left side'wall of the rectangular portion is provided with front and rear guidepins 20 and 22; similarly located guide pins extending from the rightside wall are designated 20a and 22a (FIG. 4).

The actuator unit 12 defines a push button slidably disposed in ahousing, indicated generally at 24, having top and bottom walls 26 and28 joined by an end wall 30 and opposed side walls 32 and 32a; the frontof housing 24 defines an opening through which the push button front 14slidably extends and is provided with suitable flanges for fastening tothe panel 10. The side walls 32 and 32a have rear extensions protrudingbeyond the end wall 30, which have bottom edge notches to receivefasteners, such as bolt and nuts 34 and 34a for securing electricswitches 36 and 36a thereto. Actuating levers 38 and 38a are disposed onthe top of the switches 36 and 36a, respectively, to effect switchoperation.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, a substantial part of the construction onthe right side of the housing is identical to that on the left side, soonly the left side elements will be described in detail and the rightside elements merely identified on the drawing with the letter aappended to those reference numerals of the left side elements. Forexample, the left side wall 32 has a pair of elongated guide slots 40and 42 which are similarly found on the right side wall 32a at 40a and42a, respectively. The slots 40 and 42 are spaced from each other alongthe bottom edge of side wall 32 to receive the actuator guide pins 20and 22, respectively; before actuation, the pins 20 and 22, engage thefront edge of slots 40 and 42, an upon movement of the actuator unit 12,they engage the rear edge thereof. Thus, the length of slots 40 and 42defines the length of travel for the actuator unit 12, while the frontand rear edges of such slots act as stops to define the limits ofmovement of the actuator unit 12. The side wall 32 also has a pair ofelongated slots 44 and 46 spaced from each other along a central portionof the side wall 32; the slot 44 has a width substantially the same asslots 40 and 42 while the slot 46 has a width approximately twice thesize of slot 44.

A generally rectangular link 48, slidably disposed along the inside ofwall 32, has front and rear openings 50 and 52 which are spaced fromeach other a distance corresponding to the distance between the frontedges of side wall slots 44 and 46. The link 48 is located so that itsopenings 50 and 52 are in registry with the slots 44 and 46,respectively, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Adjacent the link 48 is an elongated operating lever 54 having anintermediate opening 56 in registry with the link opening 52. Theoperating lever 54 is disposed edgewise and has a perpendicular tab 58'extending from its top edge adjacent the rear portion. The Lab 58 thusextends over the actuating lever 38 for operating the switch 36. Thefront end of operating lever 54 has a forwardly projecting tab 60 whichis a cam follower having its bottom edge in engagement with a cam.

A polygonal sided indicating block 62, in this case a cube, is disposedbehind the transparent window 16 through which indicia bearing surfacesof the block 62 are visible. It is to be understood that the indicia onthe block 62 may be in any suitable form, such a numerals, letters,markings, etc., which will be utilized to correspond to the position ofthe switches 36 and 36a. In this particular arrangement, colors havebeen used to indicate switch positions, whereby the four visiblesurfaces of the cube 62 are color coded, e.g., the top surface in FIGS.2, 4 and 5a is blue, the front surface in FIG. 5a is red, the frontsurface in FIG. 50 is yellow, and the bottom surface in FIG. 50 is white(not shown).

The four color coded surfaces of the indicator block 62 are successivelyvisible through the actuator window 16 by rotating the block 62 on acentral axis extending through the other two end surfaces of the cubicalblock 62. Each such end surface has a ratchet wheel 64 centrally fixedthereon, which includes a number of ratchet teeth corresponding to thenumber of indicia bearing surfaces. Thus in this instance, four ratchetteeth are shown with a fiat surface extending therebetween. As isillustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5c, the fiat surfaces between the ratchetteeth are non-parallel to the block edges by being slightly inclinedrelative to the adjacent edges for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. Centrally fixed to the ratchet wheel 64 is a cam 66 havingtwo arcuate end surfaces joined by two flat surfaces; the cam follower60 engages such cam surfaces whereby the lever 54 is pivoted for each 90rotation of the cam 66 and the cubical block 62. While the cam 66defines only four camming surfaces, it is to be understood that thenumber of camming surfaces are to correspond to the number of indiciabearing surfaces on the indicia block 62. It should also be noted thatthe cam 66a, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, is displaced 90 from thecam 66 whereby the cam follower 60a is actuated 90 out of phase with thecam follower 60; with such an arrangement, the operating levers 54 and54a provide a different sequence of operation of the two switches 36 and36a, and various other cam configurations may be utilized to providemany different combinations of switch actions.

The central axis of rotation of the cubical block 62 is defined by apivot pin 68 centrally extending from the end surface through theratchet wheel 64 and cam 66. The pivot pin 68 protrudes through the linkaperture 50 and the side wall slot 44; the indicator block 62 is thussupported by the side walls 32 and 3211 with its pivot pins 68 and 68abeing rotatably and slidably supported in the slots 44 and 440.

A pawl for the ratchet wheel 64 includes a flat plate 70 of springmaterial having a rear end attached to the housing top wall 26 as byrivets 71. Adjacent its orward end, left and right arms 72 and 72a onthe left and right edges of the pawl plate 70 extend downwardly andforwardly therefrom and terminate in perpendicular pawl latches 74 and74a for cooperation with the ratchet wheel 64.

A coil return spring 76 is mounted in compression between the housingrear wall 30 and an axle plate 78; each end of the axle plate 78 iscircular to define journal axles 80 (and 800:) which extend through theoperating lever aperture 56, link aperture 52 and side Wall slot 46.

Thus, the operating lever 54 is pivotally mounted on the axle 80 whichis slidably mounted in the slot 46. Because of the link 48, the pivotpin 68 and the axle 80 are linked for unitary sliding movement in theirrespective side wall slots 44 and 46. Of course, the link 48 also slidesas a unit with the pivot pin 68 and the axle 80 inasmuch as it transmitsthe actuating force from the block 62 to the axle plate 78 as well asthe spring return force from the axle plate 78 to the indicator block.

To describe the sequence of operation of the above 4 switching andindicating mechanism, the initial position of the components will be asis illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 where the red indicia surface isvisible through the actuator window 16. To operate the device, a manualforce is applied to the actuator unit 12 and, in turn, is directlyapplied to the red indicia bearing surface of the indicator block 62.The applied force causes unitary rearward movement of the actuator unit12, the indicator block 62 and the axle plate 78; the actuator unit 12slides in the direction of the applied force with its base guide pins20-20a and 2222a sliding in the side wall slots 4040a and 42-42a,respectively; the indicator block 62 slides in the same direction withits pivot pins 68-68a sliding in the side wall slots 44-4411, because ofthe links 48-480, the axle plate 78 slides in the same direction withits axles -8011 sliding in the side wall slots 46-46(1. During suchrearward movement, the operating levers 54-54a also move rearwardlysince they are pivotally mounted on the axles 80-80a, however, they donot pivot at this time because the cam 66 is merely translated and notrotated. Also during such rearward movement, the pawl latches 74-74amove upwardly against their inherent bias by the inclined surfacesbetween the teeth of the ratchet wheels 6464a. The rearward movement isstopped by the base guide pins 20-201: and 22-22a engaging the rearedges of their side wall slots 40-40a and 42-4211, respectively,whereupon the pawl latches 74-74411 are free of the ratchet wheels64-6411 and move downwardly under their inherent biasto engagethe-succeeding teeth on the ratchet wheels.

The completion of the rearward movement is illustrated in FIG. 5awherein it is apparent that the indicator block 62 has not been rotatedbut has been moved in the direction of the arrow from the line whichrepresents the edge of the opening in the front wall of housing 24.Since the Y cam follower 60 still engages the arcuate surface cam 66,the operating lever 54 has not been pivoted but only moved rearwardly sothat the lever tab 58 maintains its downward force on the switchactuator 38 as represented by the downward arrow on FIG. 5a whereby theswitch 36 has not been actuated. It should be noted that since camfollower 60a engages the flat cam surface of cam 66a the force on thelever tab 58a is just the opposite, thus, the switch 36a is also notactuated at this time.

Upon release of the applied force, the assembly commences a returnaction under the bias of the return spring 76. The intermediate positionof the components during such return action is illustrated in FIG. 5bwherein the assembly as moving in the direction of the arrow toward thefront housing edge. During such return action, the pawl latches 74-74aengage the succeeding teeth on the ratchet wheels 64-64a, causing theindicator block .62 to rotate counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 5b) onits pivot pins 68-68a. The cam 66 is also rotated whereby the camfollower 60 is moved toward the fiat surface of the cam 66 causing theoperating lever 54 to pivot about its axle 80 so that the lever tab 58moves upward as indicated by the upward arrow in FIG. 5bnote that lever54a is oppositely arranged.

As soon as the cubical indicator 62 is rotated the return action iscompleted by a sliding movement until the yellow coded surface of theblock 62 is directly behind the indicator window 16. The completedreturn movement is illustrated in FIG. 50 wherein the cam follower 60engages the flat surface of the cam so that the switch 36 has beenactuated and the switch 36a has been reversely actuated. Thus, theyellow coded surface of the cubical block 62 indicates that the switches36 and 36a have been actuated to another position. In the abovearrangement, the earns 66 and 66a are so designed that in one completerevolution of the block 62, the two switches 36 and 36a assumeon-otf-on-off and off-on-off-on sequences, respectively: however, othersequences may be used according to the requirements of a particularinstallation.

Inasmuch as the preferred embodiment of the invention is subject to manymodifications, structural alterations and reversals of parts, it isintended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shownon the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined switching and indicating mechanism comprising,

a housing,

switching means mounted on said housing,

actuator means slidably disposed in said housing,

indicating means having plural indicia bearing surfaces,

said indicating means positioned within said actuator means in onedirection,

pivote means for said indicating means,

spring means biasing said indicating means toward said actuator means inthe opposite direction to return said indicating means and said actuatormeans following movement of said actuator means in said one direction,

means rotating said indicating means on its pivot means during returnmovement thereof whereby the indicia bearing surfaces are changed,

cam means rotatable with said indicating means, and

operating means for said switch means positioned by said cam means tocause said switch means to be actuated in accordance with the rotationof said cam means with said indicating means.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said means rotating saidindicating means comprises ratchet wheel means fixed to said indicatingmeans and pawl means mounted on said housing.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said ratchet wheel meansincludes a plurality of spaced teeth connected by a sloping surface andsaid pawl means includes a spring biased pawl slidably engaging thesloping surface and successively latching said teeth to effect rotationof said indicating means.

4. The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said indicating meanscomprises a polygonal sided block providing said indicia bearingsurfaces and the number of said spaced teeth corresponds to the numberof said indicia bearing surfaces.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said pivot means definesa rotatable axis centrally located in said block in a plane parallel toeach of said indicia bearing surfaces.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said cam means iscentrally mounted on said block about its rotaable axis and comprises aplurality of cam surfaces with one cam surface for each indicia bearingsurface of said block, and said operating means including a cam followersuccessively engaging said cam surfaces to cause said operating means toactuate said switch mean in accordance with the cam surface presented tosaid cam follower.

7. The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein said block has twoopposed sides which are perpendicular to said rotatable axis, saidratchet wheel means are disposed on each of said two opposed sides andsaid pawl means comprises a pair of spring biased pawls with one pawlfor each ratchet wheel means.

8. A combined switching and indicating mechanism comprising,

a housing,

switch means mounted on said housing,

operating means for said switch means,

pivotal axle means for said operating means slidably carried by saidhousing,

indicating means having plural indicia bearing surfaces,

pivot means for said indicating means slidably carried by said housing,

linking means connecting said pivot and pivotal axle means whereby saidindicating and operating means slide as a unit in said housing. actuatormeans slidably disposed in said housing and imparting a sliding movementto said indicating and operating means when moved in one direction,spring means biasing said pivotal axle means and slidably returning saidindicating and operating means and said actuator in opposite direction,

means rotating said indicating means on its pivot means during returnmovement thereof whereby the indicia bearing surfaces are changed, and

cam means rotatable with said indicating means and engaging saidoperating means to pivot the same about said pivotal axle means wherebysaid switch means is actuated whenever the indicia bearing surfaces arechanged.

9. The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said means rotating saidindicating means comprises ratchet wheel means fixed to said indicatingand pawl means mounted on said housing.

10. The invention as recited in claim 9 wherein said ratchet wheel meansincludes a plurality of spaced teeth connected by a sloping surface andsaid pawl means includes a spring biased pawl slidably engaging thesloping surface and successively latching said teeth to effect rotationof said indicating means.

11. The invention as recited in claim 10 wherein said indicating meanscomprises a polygonal sided block providing said indicia bearingsurfaces and the number of said spaced teeth corresponds to the numberof said indicia bearing surfaces.

12. The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein said pivot meansdefines a rotatable axis centrally located in said block in a planeparallel to each of said indicia bearing surfaces.

13. The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said cam means iscentrally mounted on said block about its rotatable axis and comprises aplurality of cam surfaces with one cam surface for each indicia bearingsurface of said block and said operating means comprises lever meansintermediately mounted on said pivotal axle means having one end foroperating said switch means and an opposite end defining a cam followersuccessively engaging said cam surfaces.

14. The invention as recited in claim 13 wherein said block has twoopposed sides which are perpendicular to said rotatable axis, saidratchet wheel means are disposed on each of said two opposed sides andsaid pawl means comprises a pair of spring biased pawls with one pawlfor each ratchet wheel means.

15. The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said cam means aredisposed on each of said two opposed sides of said block and said levermeans comprises a pair of levers with one lever for each cam meanswhereby a plural operation of said switch means is effected.

16. .The invention as recited in claim 15 wherein said switch meanscomprises a pair of switches with one switch for each lever, and the camsurfaces of one cam means are in staggered relation to the cam surfacesof the other cam means whereby said pair of switches are operated insequence.

17. The invention as recited in claim 16 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a base member having a plurality of pins extending edgewisetherefrom, and said housing includes a corresponding plurality ofelongated slots receiving said plurality of pins to define limits ofmovement for said base member.

No references cited.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,377,451 April 9, 1968 Kenneth G. Kreuter It is certified that errorappears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, Iine 14, before "actuator" insert housing for movement withsaid line 16, "pivote" should read pivot Signed and sealed this 2nd dayof September 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

